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Maybe I’m going to get swine flu for saying this, but it doesn’t really scare me. Everything I heard has seemed to be panic-driven over flu-like symptoms. Nevertheless, if people care about it, then it will become an issue for schools. How would I tackle the issue at our school at state-testing time? I’ll keep this one short and sweet.
Firstly, I would wait and see what happens over the next couple of days.*** Also, if it seems to be an issue (or if another epidemic were impending), then let students wear school-distributed medical masks in school. Make hand-sanitizer readily available and have teachers use first period to inform students of preventative measures when they distribute masks. (Obviously the “cool” kids will not wear them, but they deserve to get sick, right?)
If this so-called “pig sickness” becomes that big of a problem, then the state should and would become involved in some manner. I would only close if they deemed it necessary. In the cases of students becoming ill and missing tests, I would treat it as if they had the regular Homo sapien flu and make them retest. If they can’t make it, then they can participate in retests next year or later on in high school. So it goes.
***EDITOR'S NOTE: A baby died from this swine flu which is very sad. However, while I risk sounding insensitive, I would like to point out that there are approximately 30,000 deaths per year from the REGULAR FLU. I'm just saying, let's not panic quite yet. -- 04/30/09 PL
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Can schools strip search? Short answer? I’m going to side with the school on this one, but not necessarily because I think they were right in this incident…they weren’t.
I definitely do not think that the search was needed in this particular case as the girl had no prior history and the tip came from a random student. There were grounds for searching the backpack, but not personal areas. The bottom line is poor judgment. Yes, if you have never had an incident with the student, then check her records. Conference with her and her mother or the other student who gave the tip. Send her home for the day if there was a problem. Don’t make harass her. If she’s a good student, I’m sure she’ll be scared straight anyways.
So why do I support the right to a strip search? Probably for all the reasons this school does. In cases of ACTUAL weapons, drugs, or other harmful materials, strip searches may be necessary to ensure that the students remain safe. I would have to say, however, that a warrant in each case would not be out of the question. I guess the highest court in the land will decide.
How does this impact curriculum and instruction? Well, I’d say pulling students out for strip searches would definitely have students on edge and unable to focus in their learning environment. Also, if students are accused by teachers and are not found guilty will loose all trust of any teachers. That teacher will also be in trouble as an instructor. Word gets around. The key is keeping the decisions out of the hands of teachers and in the hands of CAPABLE administrators.
So a friend of mine greeted me with an instant message that may have changed my life today. It said, "Have I got something for you!" That was followed by a series of links through the wonderful world of ukulele covers on YouTube. Here are a couple to make you smile and get your school week off on the right foot...
I would recommend you take some time and look through other ukulele videos... It's a great way to waste an afternoon.
